WO2019025443A1

WO2019025443A1 - Sensor device for a domestic refrigeration appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2019025443A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/070737
Authority: WO
Inventors: Teresa BECHTLE; Nick FLOHRER; Daniel JOHANNISBORG; Tobias Kuhn; Klaus SCHMÜCKER; Michael STROSCHE; Wilhelmus J.F. VAN GEFFEN
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2017-08-02
Filing date: 2018-07-31
Publication date: 2019-02-07
Also published as: PL3662218T3; EP3662218B1; EP3662218A1; CN110959096B; US11512890B2; US20200158417A1; DE102017213425A1; CN110959096A

Abstract

A domestic refrigeration appliance (105) comprises a pivotable door (115) on which a sensor device (110) can be mounted. Said sensor device (110) includes an inertial sensor (130) for supplying a motion signal as well as a processing unit (135) configured to determine a pivot angle of the pivotable door (115) on the basis of the motion signal and output a signal when the pivot angle has reached a pre-established limit value.

Description

Sensor device for a household refrigerator

The present invention relates to a sensor device for a household refrigerator. In particular, the present invention relates to the determination of whether a swing door of the household refrigerator has reached a predetermined threshold.

State of the art

A household refrigerator, in particular a refrigerator or a fridge-freezer, can be monitored in terms of its content by taking a mounted on the inside of the household cooling device camera at predetermined times images. A stockpiling or stock planning, for example, of food that should be kept in the household refrigerator can be supported. DE 10 2015 203 150 A1 relates to a refrigerator with a hinged door. By means of a magnetic sensor is detected when the door passes a predetermined opening angle. If this is the case, a picture of the interior of the refrigerator can be taken by means of a camera. US 2016 216 374 A1 relates to the determination of a rotational orientation of a smartphone by means of a gyro sensor.

US Pat. No. 9,013,617 B2 proposes combining images of a camera and measured values of a gyro sensor for determining the posture of a person.

The present invention has for its object to provide an improved technique for determining the opening angle of the swing door of a household refrigerator. The invention solves this problem by means of the subjects of the independent claims. Subclaims give preferred embodiments again.

Disclosure of the invention A sensor device according to the invention can be attached to a hinged door of a household refrigerator. The sensor device comprises an inertial sensor for providing a motion signal and a processing device. The processing means is arranged to determine, based on the movement signal, a swing angle of the swing gate and to output a signal when the swing angle has reached a predetermined threshold.

By using an inertial sensor, the sensor device can be made better self-sufficient, so that it can be attached or retrofitted to the hinged door with minimal effort. The inertial sensor can be reliable, accurate or cost-effective.

The inertial sensor may comprise one or more acceleration sensors (translation sensors) and / or one or more rotation rate sensors (rotation sensors). From the translation or rotation signals, the tilt angle can be determined improved. In particular, it is preferred that the inertial sensor comprises a rotation rate sensor. The swing angle of the swing door can be determined simplified.

The movement signal of the rotation rate sensor preferably relates to a rotation rate about an axis which can run parallel to an axis of rotation of the pivoting door when the sensor device is mounted on the pivoting door. In this case, the processing device is set up to integrate the rotation rate over time in order to determine the swivel angle. Thus, in a simple and direct way, the swivel angle can be determined on the basis of the output signal of the rotation rate sensor. The rate of rotation, for example, can be determined periodically and numerically integrated. Alternatively, an analog filter can also be used for integration.

In a preferred embodiment, a signal is output only when the swivel angle has reached a predetermined threshold and the swing door is in a closing movement. The processing device may be configured to integrate an amount of yaw rate over time to determine the slew angle. In order to detect the closing movement, it can be assumed that the threshold value is reached or exceeded for the second time from the closed position. is passed, or the signal can be output when the swivel angle reaches the threshold and at the same time has a yaw rate of the desired sign. As a result, there may be the advantage that the pivoting angle of the hinged door, upon reaching which, for example, a photograph is to be taken, can be determined very precisely and the photograph is taken only when the hinged door is closed. This is advantageous since it can be ensured in this way that all objects are, for example, shown in the refrigerator in the photo, the state being visible after the user has removed desired objects from the refrigerator or put them into the refrigerator , The inertial sensor may comprise a microelectromechanical sensor (MEMS: microelectromechanical sensor). Such a sensor is usually constructed in semiconductor technology and comprises components having feature sizes in the range of about 1 to 100 μηη. The microelectromechanical sensor itself can have an extent of approximately 20 to 1000 μm in one dimension. Such a sensor can be produced inexpensively as a mass-produced article. Due to its small size, it can absorb little energy during operation. The household cooling device can not be heated unnecessarily and energy storage of the sensor device can last longer.

It is further preferred that the inertial sensor comprises an oscillating sample mass. In contrast to a rotating sample mass, the oscillating sample mass can be produced more cheaply and hung so that practically no friction occurs during operation. A recorded power of the inertial sensor can be reduced and its lifetime increased. More preferably, the sensor device comprises a fastening device, which may be formed in particular for attaching the sensor device to a shelf on the inside of the swing door. The fastening device may in particular comprise a clamp, a suction cup or a suitably formed contact surface. Preferably, the fastening device is adapted to hold the sensor device on the underside of the shelf so that virtually no Absteilfläche inside the household cooling device is lost by the sensor device. Alternatively, of course, a mounting on the inside of the door is possible. It is further preferred that the processing device is set up to determine that the pivoting door is completely closed and to calibrate the determined pivoting angle. The inertial sensor, in particular if it is designed as a microelectronic-mechanical sensor, usually has a limited long-term stability. If the sensor is operated for a long time, a drift may accumulate, so that an erroneous movement of the hinged door could be determined. By occasional calibration, such an error can be compensated. The particular swing angle can be set to zero, in particular, when the swing door is completely closed. In this way it can be achieved that the pivot angle corresponds to an opening angle of the swing door.

The sensor device may comprise a scanning device for determining that the pivoting door is open. On the one hand, this allows the calibration described above to be carried out in a simplified manner. On the other hand, a part of the sensor device can only be switched on when the hinged door is no longer completely closed. Although a conventional opening of the hinged door on a household refrigeration appliance can achieve a high angular velocity in the range of approximately 90 ° per second, however, the rotational acceleration of the hinged door in the region of the closed state during opening is usually low, so that a measuring error by the not immediately available Inertialsensor may be limited. For example, the scanner may include a switch that responds when the hinged door is moved from the fully closed position. Alternatively, the scanning device may comprise a light sensor, which detects the activation of an interior lighting of the household cooling device with the swing door opening. The scanning device can also be formed in that the processing device is set up to determine that the pivoting angle of the pivoting door does not change over an extended period of time. In addition, it can be checked, for example, whether a temperature in the region of the sensor device is below, for example, 8 ° C., in order to ensure that an open pivoting door is not detected. The sensor device may further comprise a camera, wherein the processing device is adapted to take an image by means of the camera when the pivoting angle of the pivoting door has reached the predetermined threshold value. The Sen- To sorvorrichtung is preferably mounted on the inside of the swing door. A shooting angle of the camera can be controlled thereby improved.

The sensor device may further comprise a wireless communication interface, wherein the processing device is configured to send the image recorded by means of the camera via the communication interface. A receiving agency may provide improved assistance, for example in the analysis of items stored within the household refrigeration appliance, based in particular on a plurality of received images. An inventive household cooling device comprises the sensor device described above. The sensor device is preferably detachable from the household refrigerator and in particular configured to work independently, but can also be designed so that it is firmly connected to the household refrigerator or, for example sharing its power supply.

A method according to the invention for providing a signal indicating that a swing door of a household refrigerating appliance has reached a predetermined pivot angle comprises steps of determining a movement signal by means of an inertial sensor mounted on the swing gate; determining the swing angle of the swing gate based on the movement signal; and outputting the signal when the swivel angle has reached the predetermined threshold.

The method can be set up in particular for execution on the processing device of the sensor device described above. For this purpose, the method may be in the form of a computer program product with program code means.

The features disclosed with respect to one claim category are analogously applicable to the other claim categories. Advantages or features of the sensor device and of the method can thus be transferable in both directions.

Brief summary of the figures The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

1 shows a system with an exemplary household refrigerator and a sensor device in one embodiment;

2 shows a sensor device in a further embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows exemplary profiles on a sensor device on a household cooling device; FIG.

and

4 illustrates a flowchart of an example method.

FIG. 1 shows a system 100 with an exemplary domestic refrigerator 105 and a sensor device 110 in one embodiment. In the upper part of the illustration, the sensor device 1 10 is shown schematically attached to the household refrigerator 105; in the lower area, the sensor device 110 is shown in the form of a structural diagram.

The household refrigerator 105 includes, for example, a refrigerator, a table cooler, a freezer or a fridge-freezer. The household refrigerator 105 includes a swing door 115 that can be pivoted about an axis of rotation 120 to open or close the household refrigerator 105. Often, the home refrigerator 105 is configured to alternatively be configured to open the hinged door 115 to the left, as shown, or to the right. In general, the rotation axis 120 does not have to extend in the vertical direction, but may, for example, also run horizontally, for example if the household cooling device 105 comprises a freezer.

The sensor device 110 preferably comprises a fastening device 125 in order to mount it in the region of the pivoting door 115. In the simplified representation of FIG. 1, the fastening device 125 comprises, for example, one or more suction cups, in particular for attachment to a shelf on the pivoting door 115. Other fastening devices 125, for example with a form-fitting or clamping action, are also conceivable. The sensor device 110 is preferably configured to be able to work independently. For this purpose, the sensor device 110 can in particular without the set of tool attached to the pivoting door 115 or removed from it. Retrofitting an existing domestic refrigerator 105 can be simplified.

The sensor device 110 comprises an inertial sensor 130, a processing device 135, and preferably a local energy supply 140. Optionally, a camera 145, a preferably wireless communication interface 150 and / or a scanning device 155 may be included in the sensor device 110.

The inertial sensor 130 is configured to detect movement or change of movement. Preferably, inertial sensor 130 includes a yaw rate sensor configured to determine a yaw rate that is related to an axis that is parallel to or coincident with axis of rotation 120 of pivot door 115. The processing device 135 may in particular comprise a programmable microcomputer or microcontroller. The local power supply 140 preferably comprises a battery or an accumulator. In a further embodiment, an interface for connecting the sensor device 110 to a power network of the household cooling device 105 may also be provided. Via this interface, the sensor device 110 can preferably be supplied with electrical energy by the household cooling device 105.

With regard to its orientation and / or focal length, the camera 145 is preferably designed to photograph a content of the household refrigerator 105 when a pivoting angle φ of the pivoting door 115 of the household refrigerator 105 has reached a predetermined threshold value. For this, the camera 145 may include a flash unit. The communication interface 150 is preferably designed wirelessly and can work, for example, according to the WiMAX, Bluetooth or WLAN standard.

It is proposed that the processing device 135 determines the rotation angle φ of the pivot door 115 of the domestic cooling device 105 on the basis of a signal of the inertial sensor 130, compares it with a threshold value and, depending on the comparison result, drives the camera 145 to take a picture of the interior of the Household cooling device 105 record. Unlike in the upper illustration of FIG. 1, the angle of rotation φ is usually smaller than 90 °, so that the camera 145 can preferably view the entire interior of the household cooling device 105. It is generally preferred for the sensor device 110 to be at the greatest possible radial distance from the Rotary axis 120 of the swing door 115 of the household refrigerator 105 is attached. A perspective of the camera 145 can thereby be improved. In addition, the determination of an acceleration signal by means of the inertial sensor 130 can be simplified thereby. FIG. 2 shows a sensor device 110 in a further embodiment. The sensor device 110 is implemented essentially in the form of a flat cylinder and preferably carries the fastening device 125 on its upper side. The sensor device 110 is preferably designed for attachment underneath a shelf 205, which can be fastened to the inside of the pivoting door 115 of a domestic refrigerator 105. The shelf 205 preferably comprises a glass plate or plastic plate on which the fastening device 125 designed as a suction cup can advantageously engage well.

If the inertial sensor 130 is a yaw rate sensor configured to provide a yaw rate, the processing device 135 may determine the slew angle φ based on the following relationship:

O

where Θ the swivel angle (φ), ω is the rate of rotation and t is the integration time.

FIG. 3 shows exemplary profiles on a sensor device 110 on a household cooling device 105 in the manner of FIG. 1. In the upper area, a schematic plan view of the household cooling device 105 and in the lower area a time profile of the specific pivot angle φ are shown. In this case, the swivel angle φ has been integrated over the time in the manner indicated above on the basis of measured values of a rotation rate sensor 130 on the swivel door 115. The sizes shown are to be regarded as exemplary.

A position of the pivoting door 115, in which the camera 145 is to be controlled to produce an image, is shown schematically as a threshold value 305 in FIG. Threshold 305 is preferably less than a conventional swivel angle 310 that occurs when a user opens and closes swing gate 115. An exemplary one Opening movement 315 and a corresponding closing movement 320 are shown in FIG.

It is preferred that the described image is recorded when the swivel angle φ reaches or exceeds the threshold value 305 and the swivel door 115 is in the closing movement 320. For this purpose, it can either be determined that the threshold value 305 is reached or exceeded for the second time from the closed position (φ = 0 °), or the recording can be triggered when the rotation angle φ reaches the threshold value 305 and at the same time the rotation rate ω the has desired sign. In the present illustration, ω> 0 when the closing movement 320 is performed.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of an exemplary method 400. The method 400 is preferably set up to control a sensor device 110 of the type of FIG. The method 400 begins in a step 405. In a step 410, the rotation rate of the pivoting door 115 is determined by means of an inertial sensor 130 designed as a rotation rate sensor. In a step 415, the rate of rotation over time is integrated to determine the angle of rotation φ. Optionally, in a step 420, it may be determined whether the hinged door 15 is in the opening movement 315 or closing movement 320, as described above. If the wrong move 315 is present, the method 400 may return to step 410. Otherwise, it can be checked in a step 425 whether the swivel angle φ has reached the predetermined threshold value 305. If this is not the case, the method 400 may proceed to step 410.

Otherwise, in a step 430, a signal may be output that may be used, for example, to drive the camera 145 to capture an image. It can also be triggered a flash device. The prepared image can then be transmitted to an external location via the communication interface 150. Thereafter, the method 400 may return to the beginning. In a preferred embodiment, however, the specific rotation angle φ can be calibrated beforehand. For this purpose, it is determined in a step 435 whether the pivoting door 1 15 of the household refrigerator 105 is completely closed. Preferably, it is determined that the rotation rate remains constant over a predetermined time or that the True rotation angle φ does not change substantially over this time. If it can not be determined that the hinged door 15 is closed, the calibration attempt may be aborted and the method 400 may return to the beginning. Otherwise, in a step 440, the determined rotation angle φ may be set to a predetermined value, in particular zero. Thereafter, the method 400 may return to the beginning and go through again.

Calibration of the determined rotation angle φ in steps 435, 440 may also be performed at another location of the method 400. In addition, based on the state of the swing door 115 determined in step 435, the inertial sensor 130 may not be turned on until the swing gate 115 has already left its fully closed position. A predetermined time after re-reaching the fully closed position of the swing gate 115, the inertial sensor 130 may be turned off again. reference numeral

100 system

105 household refrigerator

1 10 sensor device

1 15 hinged door

120 axis of rotation

125 fastening device

130 inertial sensor

135 processing device

140 energy supply

145 camera

150 wireless communication interface

155 scanning device

205 shelf

305 threshold

310 standard swivel angle opening movement

Closing movement procedure

begin

Determine the rate of rotation

Determine the swivel angle

Way back?

Threshold reached?

Camera trigger, flash trigger, image convey door?

Calibrate the swivel angle

Claims

A sensor device (110) for a domestic refrigerator (105) having a hinged door (15), the sensor device (110) being adapted to be mounted on the hinged door (15) of the household refrigerator (105) and comprising:

an inertial sensor (130) for providing a motion signal; and

- A processing device (135) which is adapted to determine based on the movement signal, a pivot angle (φ) of the pivoting door (1 15) and

to output a signal when the swivel angle (φ) is a predetermined one

Threshold (305) has reached.

The sensor device (1 10) according to claim 1, wherein the inertial sensor (130) comprises a rotation rate sensor.

Sensor device (1 10) according to claim 2, wherein the movement signal relates to a rotation rate about an axis which is preferably parallel to an axis of rotation (120) of the pivoting door (1 15) when the sensor device is mounted on the pivoting door, and the processing means (135 ) is adapted to integrate the rate of rotation over time to determine the swivel angle (φ).

Sensor device (1 10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein only a signal is output when the swivel angle has reached a predetermined threshold and the swing door is in a closing movement.

Sensor device (1 10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inertial sensor (130) comprises a microelectromechanical sensor.

Sensor device (1 10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inertial sensor (130) comprises an oscillating sample mass.

7. Sensor device (1 10) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a fastening means (125) for mounting the sensor device (1 10) on a shelf (205) on the inside of the pivoting door (1 15).

8. Sensor device (1 10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing device (135) is arranged to determine that the pivoting door

(1 15) is completely closed and to calibrate the specific swivel angle (φ).

9. sensor device (1 10) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a scanning device (155) for determining that the pivoting door (1 15) is opened.

10. Sensor device (1 10) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a camera (145), wherein the processing device (135) is adapted to take an image by means of the camera (145) when the pivoting angle (φ) of the pivoting door ( 1 15) has reached the predetermined threshold (305).

1 1. The sensor device (10) of claim 10, further comprising a wireless communication interface (150), wherein the processing device (135) is arranged to send the captured image via the communication interface (150).

12. Domestic refrigerator (105), comprising a sensor device (1 10) according to one of the preceding claims.

13. A method (400) for providing a signal indicating that a

Swinging door (1 15) of a household refrigerator (105) has reached a predetermined pivoting angle (φ), wherein the method (400) comprises the following steps:

Determining (410) a motion signal by means of an inertial sensor (130) attached to the hinged door (15);

Determining (415) the swing angle (φ) of the swing gate (15) on the basis of the movement signal; and Outputting (430) the signal when the swivel angle (φ) has reached the predetermined threshold (305).